Tag Archives: Singapore

A person with his own business enjoys more financial independence and greater control on his financial status. But to succeed in any venture, it is important for anyone to visualize first his goals, business structure to follow, and other related details before proceeding to his business. Three Basic Types of Business Entities

The first thing an entrepreneur should decide is what type of business entity he wants to adopt before he starts the application for Singapore business registration.

Is it sole proprietorship in which he would be the only owner and will enjoy full control? Is it partnership in which he can have up to 20 business partners which means more funding? Or is it private limited company (or corporation) in which his business will enjoy perpetual existence while his personal assets are protected from the debts and losses of his company?

Every business entity has its own pros and cons which must be greatly considered. However, most experts agree that a private limited company is the most ideal for entrepreneurs with a long-term goal for their business as this setup will allow them to enjoy protection of asset, attractive corporate incentives, and other benefits.

The Products and Services

Bonafide entrepreneurs have always associated their products and services to their target-market so they can estimate the amount of capital they will need, equipment and materials to be purchased, and the level of quality they should offer.

Meanwhile, these questions can guide budding entrepreneurs on deciding on what products or services they should offer: What are my niche skills and interests that can generate profit? What is the estimated profit of my product? Can it be easily sold? It is easy to produce? Does it have an existing target-market?

Competitive and Market Analysis

One of the most important things any entrepreneurs should do is examine the business environment which includes the existing competition, different types of consumers, media, social norms, and other factors which can have a direct and indirect impact on their business.

When conducting competitive analysis, most experts agree that these four factors should be the main focus of entrepreneurs: who are the direct and indirect competitors, the specific market of competitors, the number of years they have been operating, and how do they attract their target-market.

Operations of a Business

Operations usually include the location, how many employees a certain business will need, the equipment, machinery, suppliers, materials, ways to track inventory and sales, and other related-issues.

There are three business arrangements in Singapore that have been specifically created for foreign entrepreneurs and business entities planning to have a presence in the country: a subsidiary company, branch office, and representative office.

These are the basic differences between these business entities for foreign entrepreneurs and investors:

1. Subsidiary company

This is probably the most ideal business entity for foreign companies planning to form a Singapore company or expand their presence in the country. This is because this formation provides countless of benefits especially when it comes to tax incentives and limited liability.

As a separate legal entity from its parent company, a subsidiary company may have a different name and is allowed to conduct any business activities in the country as long as these are legal.

A foreign company with a subsidiary company enjoys a limited liability, an arrangement in which it is not liable for any losses, liabilities, and debts of its Singapore auxiliary business.

And because a subsidiary company is incorporated in Singapore, it also enjoys local tax benefits even if it is 100 percent owned by foreign businessmen and entities.

However, this business setup is required to appoint at least one resident director who may be a Singaporean citizen or holder of EntrePass, Employment Pass, or Permanent Residence Status.
Meawhile, a subsidiary company may have one to 50 shareholders who may be a foreign or local individual or another business entity. To know more abour subsiday company follow this link:

2. Branch office

A branch office, being an extension of its business headquarter, is only allowed to conduct activities performed by its parent company.

Unlike a subsidiary company, a branch office is not provided with local tax benefits since it is treated as a legal extension of its parent company. And with this arrangement, the headquarter is directly liable for all the losses, debts, and liabilities of its Singapore branch office.

Meanwhile, it is a legal requirement for a branch office to hire two Singaporean resident agents who will oversee its business operation.

When it comes to government-imposed disclosure requirements, this business entity may not be appealing for some shareholders since they are also required to submit the audited accounts of their parent company. To know more about branch office, follow this link:

3. Representative office

Legally speaking, a representative office is not really a business entity as it is not allowed to engage in any revenue-generating activities.

A representative office is generally ideal for foreign companies who are not yet sure of the business viability of their services or goods in Singapore and want to conduct an extensive market research before engaging in a full-blown operation. To know more about representative office, follow this link: